Signaling system



R. HILL July 5, 1927. 7 1,634,287

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 3. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet j vi venTo'L REUBEN H11. L

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R. HILL.

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 5. 1925 3 Sbeets-$heet 3 Elnvani'o o REUBEN HILL,

v I V l sm d m vgldxwwzmfll Patented July 5, 1927.

air-en STATES PATENT'QFFECB' REUBEN HILL, or WESTHAR'I'FORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MINABD A. rossons, or CLEVELAND, OHIO. 1

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed September 3, 1925. Serial No. 54,238.

My invention relates to signal systems for vehicles.

It is the object of my invention topio vide a signal system for vehicles in which the signal is remote from the operator, and in which there is a preliminary hand setting control for setting the signal to indicate a contemplated maneuver by the vehicle an appreciable period before the maneuver is executed.

It is a further object to have in such a combination means of delaying the automatic restoration of the signal to inoperative position a suiiicient time to allow the vehicleto proceed from the point where the signal is given to the point where the maneuver is executed at which point the signal is picked up by the steering mechanism and held in indicating position until the maneuver is executed whereupon it is allowed to drop back into operative position.

It is my further object to provide in such a signal system both a direction indicating means and lights to call attention to the direction indicating means.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the installation of the system showing the parts in normal inoperative position;

Figure 2 shows the parts when the signal hasbeen set;

Figure 3 shows the parts when the signal has been set and the steering gear is operated;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the dash unit in an operative position;

Figure 5 is a view of the dash unit when the signal is in operative position before the handle is returned;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the operating cable being held by thedash pot while the operating handle is returned to normal position.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the indicator unit with the arrow in indicating position;

Figure 8 is anelevation of the unit with the cover removed Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 is a dashboard on which is mounted a con troller unit box 2 having a handle 3. From this box, the cables 4:. and 5 lead to the indicator box 6 from which is suspended the license plate 7 The steering gear consisting of a steering column 8 and a steering wheel 9 is provided on which a steering arm 10 is ingmedium.

position.

so arranged as to engage with the lugs 11 and 12 on the cables for actuating the cables. r

illlS steermg arm is connected to the drag link 13.

Referring to the details of the dash controller unit, it will be observed that such a unit consists'ot' an operating handle 3 pivoted on the stud 14 and carrying at its lower free end an engaging finger 15 for engaging with one arm 16 of bell crank pivoted at 14, the other arm 17 of which carries a projecting pin 18 traveling in a slot 19 in the lever 20 which is pivoted on the dash board controller unit at 21. Midway the length of this lever 20 is a dash pot plunger 22 working in a dash pot 23 of any desired character using air, oil or water or other retard- The details are not essential torthis invention. To the. arm 16 of the bell crank is connected the cable 5 which works within the guide tube 24:. The cable at works within a similar guide tube 252.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 this guide tube has been removed for the purpose of clearness. It will be therefore seen that when the cable is actuated by the movement of the lever it will be held in actuating position during the time it is necessary for the dash pot to slowly return to its initial position. This the cable is induced to do by reason of a spring acting on the cable which is located in the indicator unit. The time of movement of the dash pot is suflicient to allow the vehicle to move from the point where the controller is set to the point where the maneuver is executed.

In the meanwhile the steering gear has executed the maneuver and the arm 10 picks up one of the lugs 11 or 12 moving the cable a slight distance further or just engaging with the lug and after the maneuver is executed, the apparatus can go back to normal In this arrangement, it is possible to always insure a signal being given even though the operator forgets the preliminary setting.

Turning to the indicator unit, it will be noted that it is composed of asupporting back member 25 with the side wall 26 and a cover 27. The cover is provided with a rectangular. opening 9.8,filled with clear glass 29 under which is displayed the indicating arrow 30 or 31. On either side of this opening are located colored glass windows 32 and 33. lVhen the arrow is in indicatingposition, the window adjacent the head of the arrow is illuminated to indicate the direction of the proposed maneuver of the vehicle. Below this window are the usual lights, such as a reverse direction light 34, tail light which has a downwardly directed hood 36 for illuminating the license tag and a stop light 37, all of which are operated in the usual manner.

With reference to the detail mechanism, it will be observed that the arrow 30 has a (block 39 and depending sliding members 38 and 49 working in guide ways 48 and 50. The bottom of this block 39 is engaged by a pin 40 on a lever 41 which is pivoted at 42, which pivot carries a segment gear 43 engaging with a rack 44. This rack 44 is carried on the cable 5. The end of the cable is attached to the spring 46 which, in turn, is hooked. to the casing at 47. The direction indicator 31 and the parts for operating it are identical with the indicator 30 and its operating parts, the arrows simply being located in different planes and the arrowheads pointing in opposite directions. Above the arrows, mounted on the back 25, are spring fingers 51 and 52 arranged in different planes. The finger 51 is engaged by the arrow 30 and forced against the contact plate 53, while the finger 52 is engaged by the arrow 31 and forced against the contact plate 54. These spring fingers 51 and 52 are supplied with current by a line 55. The other side of the circuit is supplied by a line 56, one branch of which leads through a wire 57 to a lamp 58, which lamp is connectedto the plate 53 by a wire 59. The other branch 60 leads to a lamp 61 which is connected on its other side by a wire 62 to the contact plate 54.

In operation, when the arrow is elevated, it forces the contact linger against the contact plate illuminating the lamp which is be hind the colored glass, thereby adjacent the arrow-head, further attracting the attention of those who should observe the indication of the vehicles next maneuver.

It will be understood that I desire to coinprehend within my invention such modifier tions as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a signaling system, a controller unit, an indicator unit, communicating means therebetween and means to restore the indicator unit to inoperative position and means to gradually resist such restoration to delay the restoration and bell cranks connected to said resisting means and said communicating means. 7

' 2. In a signaling system, a controller unit, an indicator unit, communicating means therebetween and means to delay the restoration of the indicator unit to inoperative position after it has once been set to a. given indication, an actuating handle for said indicator unit having a friction connection. with said communicating means.

3. In a signaling system, a controller unit, communicating means, an indicator and means connected to the steering mechanism of the vehicle on which the system is 1nstalled for actuating the indicator by said steering mechanism and holding it in actuated position during the given maneuver indicated by the indicator and means on the controller for retarding the restorationol the indicator to inoperative position after it has been once set in indicating position.

4. In a signaling system, a controller unit, cables leading therefrom to an indicator unit, an indicator unit, means adapted to be displayed to indicate the direction of movement in the indicator unit actuated by the cables, a handle on the controller unit for actuating said cables, a dash pot on the controller unit for resisting the restoration of the cables and indicator toinoperative position.

5. In a signaling system, a controllerunit,

cables lcadin therefrom to an indicator unit, an indicator unit, means adapted to be displayed to indicz to the direction of movement in the indicator unit actuated by the cables, a handle on the controller unit ltor actuating said cables, a dash pot on the controller unit 'lt'or resistingthe restoration oi the cables and indicator to inoperative position, and yielding means for withdrawing the cable to inoperative position. i

('3. In a controller unit for a signaling system, a single handle pivotedly mounted therein, bell cranks pivotedly mounted therein, means on said handle for actuating alternately said bell cranks, actuating cables connected to said respective bell cranksand, dash pots connected to said respective bell cranks.

7. In a controller unit for a signaling system, a single handle pivotedly mounted therein, bell cranks pivotedly mounted therein, means on said handle for actuating alter nately said bell cranks, actuating cables connected to said respective bell cranks, and dash pots connected to said respective bell cranks, and means to guide said cables.

8. In a signaling system, an indicator unit consisting of a casing, arrows adapted to be elevated alternately to indicate the direction, levers adapted to lift said arrows respectively, segment gears on said levers, a rack for actuating said segment gears, cables carrying said respective racks, guiding means on said arrows for guiding them and guiding means on said casing for guiding the guide means. I

9; In an indicator in a signaling system,

a container, cables leading the-rein, spaced ion guide-ways therein, levers pivoted adjacent said guide-ways having pins thereon, sliding blocks carried by arrows, said sliding blocks being adapted to slide in said guides and be engaged by said pins, segnent gears on said levers, racks on the cables for engagement therewith and yielding means for restoring said arrows to inoperative position and a cover on said container having cutaway portions to display the respective arrow when it is in its operative position.

10. In a signaling system, a control unit consisting of a supporting panel, dash pots on either side thereof, bell cranks pivoted on a common pivot therebetween, the arms of said bell cranks being respectively attached to dash potpistons and piston rods, a lever mounted on said pivot having an arm projecting between the other arms of said bell cranks and cables connected to said arms whereby as the handle is moved from one side to the other it alternately actuates the bell cranks and their respective cables together with the movement of the dash pot, the piston and piston rod to the extreme position, whereupon the handle may return to initial position.

11. In a signaling system, a control unit consisting of a supporting means, spaced parallel dash pots having piston rods and pistons therein, actuating levers pivoted adjacent to said dash pots'and intermittently pivotally connected to the piston rods thereof having slotted ends projecting therebeyond, bell cranks pivoted on a common pivotbetween said slotted ends having the free ends of the arms thereby adapted to slide in said free ends, a lever pivoted on said pivot of the bell cranks having one end proecting between the other ends of the bell cranks, and cables connected to the other arms of the bell cranks.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

REUBEN-HILL. 

